BHP Has the Cash, Needs the Growth

BHP Billiton, which is pursuing a $38.6 billion hostile bid for Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan Inc., is expected to report a solid gain in annual profit on Wednesday.

BHP and other miners are mildly positive about their immediate prospects, mainly because of sustained demand for commodities from developing economies, especially China. The world's biggest miner is balancing its optimism with a degree of caution, however.